CINCINNATI: In a joint announcement, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (CSC) have announced the cancellation of their upcoming holiday productions and postponement of their mainstage productions until fall 2021. Both theatres had previously announced delayed seasons that would have begun with a holiday show followed by a January-to-July 2021 lineup. In the meantime, both companies intend to offer a slate of virtual performances, socially distanced special events, and educational programming.

“The decision helps ensure our healthy return in the fall of 2021, while still offering some inspirational, alternative programming at the playhouse,” said Cincinnati Playhouse artistic director Blake Robison in a statement. “Weekend special events require less time and risk to present, and this makes them a better option in the current environment. We plan to be very busy bringing our community virtual and socially distanced ways to experience live theatre in the coming months.”

Programming for the playhouse’s 2020-21 season will now include The Playhouse Presents, a series of socially distanced special events, to kick off on Nov. 20 with the solo performance A Night of Joy with Daniel Beaty. Other plans for the season include virtual outreach touring plays, virtual education programs, and Off the Grid, which creates immersive theatrical experiences for both virtual and socially distant audiences.

CSC’s programming plans include a yet to be announced holiday video, educational programming, free filmed and audio drama versions of Shakespeare titles, a podcast called “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” and The War of the Worlds: An Audio Drama, written and directed by Jeremy Dubin and Brian Isaac Phillips.